Walkabout The World - A Disney Podcast - Riding the Benches of Hollywood Studios with Host Josh

Episode Date: April 19, 2026

Hello Travelers! This week, join host Producer Josh for another supersized episode as he takes you on a stroll around Disney's Hollywood Studios with a goal to sit and take in the ambience from some of the best benches and seating in the park. Enjoy the ambience from the best seats around Echo Lake, a bustling Sunset Boulevard, Galaxy's Edge, and Baseline Taphouse. We are listener supported - contribute to the Dole Whip Fund via Google or Apple Pay. Thanks! Walkabout the World is now on TikTok! Come follow our visual companion to the audio podcast at Walkabout.the.world.pod on TikTok And of course, visit us on Instagram and at walkabouttheworld.com - find links to all the things - attraction episodes, Insta accounts of all the hosts, and even how to buy your own Walkabout shirt!

Hello, travelers, and welcome back to Walk About the World. We are your favorite audio walk-and-talk with a friend around the parks and resorts at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. If you're new to us, each week we record live in the parks. Provide you with a new auditory experience with every episode. What are you going to hear? Well, you'll hear the crowds, you'll hear the music. You'll ride some attractions. And yes, you'll even get the occasional magical magic.

meltdown of a tired child who never wants the fun to end. Just a reminder, if you enjoy what we bring you each week, we are listeners supported, so feel free to show your appreciation by clicking the Dolewip Fund. The link is in the show notes. That'll allow you to donate as much or as little as you'd like. You can buy us a Dole Whip, mouse-shaped treat, but mostly it helps with our podcasting fees and helps us keep doing what we love to do, as we bring you around the parks and resorts with us.

So thanks for being with me today. I am Josh. And you can hear that music. You probably know where we're at. We are back at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The sun is going down. I'm here for the evening as it starts to cool down on a spring Florida night. Here's the plan for today.

It's been a while since I've had a little walkie-talkie with you. Today, because I'm just here to chill. You're going to chill with me. I'm old now. I'm in my 40s. Yes, that's old. And I got to say, there's one thing about being old is that you get to come to Disney and just sit on a bench and do nothing.

I appreciate that now. Sure, we do the other stuff. I enjoy a good thing. thrill ride now and then. But after a day of work, I like to come up to a Disney park, finding you a good bench with some music, some ambience, do some people watching, and that is what we're going to do. So I'm going to take you around Hollywood Studios to some of my favorite benches, just as I have fond memories of my grandfather sitting on the benches.

and just chatting with people, chatting with strangers, chatting with tourists, chatting with cast members. I'm not going to do that, but he loved it. So I'm going to dedicate this episode to my grandfather and also to my west coast, Josh, because I know he'll appreciate it. This one's for you, Joshie. All right, we are at the entrance. Let's head in. Let's go find a bench. Crossroads of the world with Mickey Mouse up at the top.

Right ahead as you enter onto Hollywood Boulevard. You got Oscars over to the right. We always like to swing by Oscars and say hi to Bo. If you know, you know, Bo. Hey, Bo. There he is. Sun's going down. Music is loud.

Crowds are disguised. First thing, yeah, that's how I like it. That's my kind of Disney. It's going to take it slow as we stroll to our first destination, which is going to be one of my favorite sitting spots on Echo Lake. Let's head over that way. See how many people's pictures we can be in the background of. So far, one, two, and three.

Mmm, delicious smells coming from the Hollywood and Vine. Left at Keystone Clodiers, Clojures, Clojures, I'm not saying that word anymore. Keystone. The big green Art Deco building with clothes in it. Because that, of course, takes me right down to Keynes. We all know that I like to visit. Clips C-Cord at Peeves. If you don't know who that is, educate yourself, guys.

Come on. Watch the Rocketeer. We're going to do a little U-turn from Peeves. We're going to hit up our first bench, which is the old Celebrity Five and Dime Hollywood Novelties Bench, right in front of the steps of Echo Lake. So we're going to give you the good sounds of chilling on a bench. at Echo Lake.

Enjoy. Let's go find another bench. But man, that is one of my favorites for sure. The sound of the fountain in Echo Lake. The awesome soundtrack. We've got Maroon Studios.

Billboard. Behind us. To the right of us. And then more Who Framed Roger Rabbit goodness behind us. Eddie Valiant's office up at the top above the Hollywood Vine, Roger's silhouette. Take it in.

Another little stroll toward Gertie and Indy, who are both glowing so beautifully in the golden hour sunlight, the warm colors of Indiana Jones. Somehow even warmer. Love it. When it comes to benches on Echo Lake, there's really not a bad one. not a bad one. But I love the five and dime because of the theming, the artwork on the bench itself. Most of the other benches are just your standard park benches around the lake. Snap a little sunset picture of Gertie. That's some good strolling music right there. Spring at the parks.

Jeremy, is that a magnolia tree over here in front of the frozen Hyperion theater? where the Academy Busts used to be, you'll have to let me know. I'll take a picture and you can correct me. It looks like Magnolias, but I don't know. It smells like Magnolias. Now when it comes to sunset walks at Disney Parks, what's your favorite?

Epcot seems to be a no-brainer. Studios is really good, too. Magic Kingdom, Adventure Lambs, have some really cool sunset shots. Animal Kingdom, when you can get there before sunset, because usually it closes before them, depending on the time of year. We are in the courtyard in front of the Chinese theater. Soundtrack changes up a little bit, and look what I can see. Just a few days ago, they erected the Sorcerer Hat at the former launch bay. former animation building, new animation building. It looks pretty cool.

Some people are saying, oh, it's the return of the sorcerer hat to the studios. But I think a lot of people don't realize that it's literally just a copy of the actual animation studios in Burbank. Swung around, brown derby on our left. We're heading towards sunset for another bench. Wharf fills the air Just now seeing something I don't think I've ever noticed

I love when that happens I don't know if it's been there all the time or if it's something new must have been there but there is a graphic on a brick wall behind the brown derby that says additional theater parking

at 8361 Vine Street I've never noticed that so what I did came around Brown Derby and where into the little courtyard where starring rolls cafe used to be their umbrellas and seating is now and I looked up and I said wow there's something I've never seen before perhaps one of you travelers can enlighten me as to whether that it has always been there and I just never noticed it or if it's something that's new either way it's always exciting when you've grown up in these parks

and you find something that you've never seen before. It's exciting. Welcome to Sunset Boulevard. Take in some of that good stuff on Sunset at Sunset. Because looky there. There's my other favorite bench open for me. This one is right in front of the majestic theater. Where we're going.

Yeah. So we're going to have a seat for a little bit, just as we did at Echo Lake. Enjoy some sunset boulevard. Hollywood Tower Hotel, not illuminated quite yet, but it is directly to our right at the end of sunset. I'm going to put you down so you can enjoy. The sounds of Sunset Boulevard at sunset.

On a bench with producer Josh and my grandfather. And West Coast Josh. Who just happens to be Michelle's husband? Sunset at sunset just might be my favorite bench now. All right, we're going to take a walk down sunset because I have not yet seen the repaint of the rock and roller coaster car. And with all the news this week of the release of the songs for Rock and Roller Coaster. guest stars, the cameos and the queue.

It's been an exciting time for Muppet fans. The only thing I'm not too excited about is the fact that they took away the perfect Muppet attraction for everyone that everyone could enjoy with such wide accessibility. And then they put them in a roller coaster. That bums me out because not everybody's going to be able to enjoy it.

But selfishly, I must say, I'm just happy the Muppets are back. So let's go check out the entrance to Rock and Roller Coaster. Oh, and I have to get some pennies. They have those exclusive pressed pennies with the Muppets and the construction outfits. Assuming it will be limited. I've got to get those for Jude, my son, who collects pressed pennies. So we're going to go find those. As the sun sets on sunset.

Tower of Terror glowing in the golden hour light. Beautiful blue skies. Oh, there it is. Okay, yeah, that's cool. She's a beaut. And the sign, there's a sandwich board sign right underneath that says, we're moving right along. Rock and roller coaster is currently closed as we load in the band.

scaffolding up around the entrance, the guitar. Must be painting that too. Here are the pennies. I'm going to grab these pennies. There, got my workout. If you haven't seen them, I'll post a picture. They're pretty fun. Okay.

That was a workout, so now we have to go find a bench to sit on it. Let's go find a new one. And because I know you're wondering, who's on the pennies? Tell us who's on the pennies. Well, you've got Gonzo, you've got Sam, you've got Bunsen, and you got Beaker. That's in one of the machines and then the one next to it. You've got Fazi.

You got Bean Bunny. You got Sweetums. And Chef. Good times. So, I get it. It's a tribute to all former attractions, but mostly. Puppet Vision 3D. We are now headed toward Toy Storyland.

Just swung around the way we came and took a right. Pass One Man's Dream, Walt Disney Presents Theater, to which I heard someone say, Let's go ride One Man's Dream. It's not exactly a thrill ride. But hey, maybe they'll be thrilled. I usually am. So they do keep little things like, you know,

I hate that they still call it the studio. and there's really no studio at all anymore, but they still update the, um, the film, uh, recent film billboards that are on the side of the Chinese theater on the backside. They currently have hoppers and Devil Wears Prada too. Once upon a time, there were, uh, Honey I Shrump the Kids, always had a big billboard over by the honey, shrunk the kids playground for by that set it was great it lasted a long time and you

heard jessie we are in toy storyland you know on andy's backyard and honestly i don't think i've ever sat at a bench as i was saying before i was interrupted by rex i don't think i've ever Actually sat on a bench in Toy Storyland, mostly because it just feels so crowded over here. It's not so much. It's a different kind of energy. If you're into this kind of energy, find a popsicle stick bench and enjoy it. But I don't think we're going to do that. Because it's very busy in this area.

It's a little crazy. Great music, though. So we're going to bypass. I'm just going to walk through, enjoy the music, and head to Galaxy's Edge. It's my favorite part. What are you guys feeling about Toy Story 5? I think they should have ended at 3. But we all know that money is important to the Disney Company.

Ah, here we go. All right. Head it into Galaxy's Edge, guys. And of course, once again, Disneyland's getting cool stuff at the Galaxy's Edge and we are not. West Coast is getting Han Solo and Leah walking around. and we are not. Black Spire looking beautiful in the golden hour light as well. Just do a quick in and out.

Let me see. I just asked you to go into the business. So I don't know if that'll be worth it, but I just figured I'd ask and say, hey, can I just pop in and pop out just to get some audio? And he said, yeah, sure, come on in. Of course, it was very loud in there, so I don't even know if I'll end up using that audio.

But if we do, there's a little bit of Ovis for you. Which means now we are at the Falcon, which means I am in search of another bench. So I've decided instead of just finding a bench at Galaxy's Edge. I don't even know if that's what they would call them. I don't know, they're space seats. I don't know, they have some kind of clever name, but instead, we're going to come out over to the patio area of Docky Bay.

Because they always have some funky, awesome music and ambience over here. So let's have a seat in here. Listen. Welcome. First order, Admiral, General, someone just passed by and wished me a rising moon. The themeing is alive and well. Not terribly busy over in Galaxy's Edge today. Headed through the market.

Creature stall to our left. Little bug-eyed porgs staring at me as I walk by. Refreshers to the right. Our favorite noises. I assure you those flushing noises are on the outside and I did not go in the restroom. So I think we've got one more good bench in us. So we're gonna head out of Galaxy's Edge. I think I have an idea of where I want to be.

want to go. Oh, maybe I shouldn't have come this way. That is a lot of, a lot of scaffolding on my my Muppety Courtyard, former Muppety Courtyard. Unrecognizable. So yes, we are on Grand Avenue. The only thing I do like about this coming this way is when you come out of the tunnel and get to see what's left of the old back lot. I remember that building very well. And over in this area, in the late, mid-90s, what was it, like 96, 97? They had an Ace Ventura Pet Detective show on the lot back here. Random, but I loved it.

I loved it, and I wanted to be Ace Ventura for Halloween because of it. Yeah, I can't spend a whole lot of time here, so we're going to keep walking. That would have been a great bench, by the way. had I not been staring at the corpse of my old beloved Muppets. I'll tell you what we can do, we can grab a seat over here at Baseline Tapp House and enjoy some of the tunes there, and then we'll call it a night. That sounds good. Let's do that. All right, so we just pulled up to baseline. It's not a bench, but we got a nice table.

The sun is down, the lights are on. It's a great way to end the night. I had to check out this awesome looking flatbread pizza. So, let's enjoy a little bit of baseline ambience, and then we'll call it a night. I hope you enjoyed that, Travelers, as much as I did. Thanks for being with me today. If you haven't already, please give us a follow over on Instagram and TikTok even. You can check out our photos and videos from a video. walkabouts. Say hi to us, interact with the host, give us your feedback, or just talk about Disney with us.

Share the love. We always love hearing from you. There is a tutute. That's the Hollywood Studios version of hearing the train in the background, I guess, is hearing the old SS down the hatch. Anywho, we do love hearing from you. And, you know, give us some requests, suggestions for future episodes. As we sing, sing, sing, down Hollywood Boulevard, I really do think the coolest thing about coming to this park in the evening time. You get here before the sun goes down, they leave when the sunset and the neons are bright. And there's nothing quite like it.

Just getting that old Hollywood charm. seeing Pluto's tail wag at you, waving goodbye as you exit the park. It's my favorite. It's always been my favorite since I was a kid. So even with all the changes that the studios has been for in recent years, it still holds a special place in my heart, especially the parts that haven't changed at all since I was little, like Hollywood Boulevard.

So with that, again, thanks for being with me. Thanks for hanging out on the benches, listening to all. all the ambience that the studios has to offer. And I will see you on another episode of Walk About the World. Bye. See you real soon.